(19) |
|
|
(11) |
EP 2 541 108 B1 |
(12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
(45) |
Mention of the grant of the patent: |
|
04.03.2015 Bulletin 2015/10 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 20.06.2012 |
|
(51) |
International Patent Classification (IPC):
|
|
(54) |
Static seal device for wheel hub assemblies connected to constant velocity joints
Statische Dichtvorrichtung für an Gleichlaufgelenke befestigte Radnabenbaugruppen
Dispositif de joint statique pour ensembles formant un moyeu de roue connecté à des
joints à vitesse constante
|
(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL
NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
(30) |
Priority: |
29.06.2011 IT TO20110573
|
(43) |
Date of publication of application: |
|
02.01.2013 Bulletin 2013/01 |
(73) |
Proprietor: Aktiebolaget SKF |
|
415 50 Göteborg (SE) |
|
(72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Nosenzo, Fabio
I-14100 Asti (IT)
- Ferraro, Vincenzo
I-10023 Chieri (TO) (IT)
|
(74) |
Representative: Tedeschini, Luca |
|
SKF Industrie S.p.A.
Via Pinerolo, 44 10060 Airasca (TO) 10060 Airasca (TO) (IT) |
|
|
|
Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
|
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a static sealing device for wheel hub assemblies
connected to constant velocity joints, such sealing device being mountable in a simple
and versatile way.
[0002] Wheel hub assemblies support a vehicle wheel on one side and if the wheel is driving,
they are angularly connected to a relative constant velocity joint for transmitting
the driving torque from the axle shaft to the wheel itself. Wheel hub assemblies have
an axis A of rotation and comprise an inner ring and an outer ring coaxial to each
other and to axis A of rotation and rotatable with respect to each other by the arrangement
of a crown of rolling bodies therebetween.
[0003] The inner ring is a flanged inner ring for allowing a wheel to be attached to the
assembly and comprises:
- a flange crosswise axis A of rotation,
- an axle extending along axis A of rotation and made integral with and of the same
material as the flange, and
- an insert ring, which is axially mounted on the axle on the side opposite to the flange
with respect to the axle itself, and is axially locked against a shoulder of the axle
by a rolled edge.
[0004] The transmission of the driving torque from the constant velocity joint to the wheel
hub is ensured by conjugate motion transmission toothed means provided on the adjacent
and facing ends of the wheel hub and of the outer ring of the constant velocity joint;
the toothed means may consist of a typical splined coupling or a pair of front toothings
that couple to each other head to head, as shown in
WO2009/140996, in
EP2042755, or again in
WO2008/006339.
[0005] In particular, in the case of provision of front toothings, the junction zone between
wheel hub and constant velocity joint must be protected against infiltrations of external
contaminants (water, dust, mud, dirt); the same applies to the rolling bodies mounted
arranged between the inner ring and the outer ring which is provided with the fixing
means to the suspension upright.
[0006] Such protection is obtained according to
WO2008/006339 by a single sealing assembly made of two opposite shields, a first one fixed onto
the inner ring of the bearing, on the side facing the constant velocity joint, and
a second one fixed to the outer ring of the bearing and carrying a sealing ring provided
with one or more sliding lips which cooperate in contact with the first shield. The
first shield has a complex shape obtained by a dual fold, so that a sleeve portion
thereof extends so as to protrude from the inner ring of the bearing and towards the
outer ring of the constant velocity joint, covering the junction zone. This protruding
portion may be provided, at least at the free end thereof, with an annular seal which
frontally cooperates with the outer ring of the constant velocity joint; moreover,
the protruding portion or the face of a flange portion of the first shield, facing
in use the constant velocity joint, may be provided with an annular signal generating
element (also called "phonic wheel") consisting, if the shield is made of a ferromagnetic
metal material, of an alternation of projections and depressions, or of an annular
sealing portion made of a magnetizable elastomeric material, magnetized so as to have
an alternation of magnetized and non-magnetized zones, or of zones having opposite
polarities. Once in use coupled with a suitable sensor, the rotation of the "phonic
wheel", which according to what said is integral with the inner ring, generates a
signal that serves for detecting the rotation speed of the vehicle wheel.
[0007] The solution according to
WO2008/006339 is expensive, complex to manufacture and to assembly and produces large overall dimensions,
both in radial and in axial directions.
[0008] In the case of
WO2009/140996, the first shield has a simple L-shape in radial section and carries the signal generating
element on the flange portion thereof; the protection of the junction zone is carried
out by a second sealing assembly, separate from and adjacent to the sealing assembly
arranged to protect the rolling bodies, mounted fitted, through a tubular core thereof,
onto the outer lateral surface of the inner ring of the wheel hub assembly; at the
free end thereof, the tubular core carries an annular sleeve seal which makes a radial
seal on the outer ring of the joint. This solution greatly increases the axial dimensions
of the bearing since the inner ring of the same must be made adequately long for allowing
the separate fitting of both sealing assemblies. Moreover, in order to obtain the
fitting of the second sealing assembly it is preferable to have a shoulder available
to the same whereon the thrust required in the mounting step is exerted. This should
be obtained on the core towards the zone of the free end thereof, at the end of the
fitting zone on the inner ring which is therefore subject to peak load in the mounting
step and may easily get deformed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a static sealing device for wheel
hub assemblies connected to constant velocity joints which is free from the above
drawbacks, having low costs and high ease of manufacture and mounting, high protection
efficiency on the rolling bodies and the coupling zone between joint and wheel hub
and reduced axial and radial dimensions.
[0010] A static sealing device for wheel hub assemblies connected to constant velocity joints
is thus provided according to the invention, as defined in claim 1.
[0011] A compact overall device structure is thus obtained, with reduced axial and radial
dimensions, easy to manufacture and to assembly, without subjecting the device parts
to peak load, which parts moreover can be kept within reasonable axial length limits.
An excellent fluid seal is equally obtained in the adjacent zones of the joint and
of the wheel hub as well as the possibility of mounting the sealing device according
to the invention in two times, which facilitates the assembly of the wheel hub assembly
allowing the rolling bodies to be protected during the various assembly processing
steps.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the
following description of a non-limiting embodiment thereof, made with reference to
the figures in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
- figure 1 schematically shows a longitudinal elevation radial section view of a static
sealing device according to the invention applied to a wheel hub assembly connected
to a constant velocity joint, only partially shown for the sake of simplicity;
- figure 2 shows an enlarged scale view of a detail of the sealing device in figure
1; and
- figures 3 and 4 schematically show a longitudinal elevation radial section view of
an identical detail of two possible construction versions of the static sealing device
in figure 1 applied to a wheel hub assembly of the type shown in figure 1, only partially
shown for the sake of simplicity.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] With reference to figures 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 (figure 1) globally denotes
a static sealing device for a wheel hub 3 having axis A of rotation and of symmetry.
The wheel hub 3 comprises an inner ring 5 which is operatively associated with a constant
velocity joint 6, only partially shown for the sake of simplicity, for rotating integrally
therewith.
[0014] The wheel hub assembly 3 further comprises an outer ring 8 mounted coaxial and concentric
with ring 5, radially on the outside of ring 5, and a plurality of rolling bodies
9 arranged between rings 5 and 8. The inner ring 5 comprises a so-called "insert"
ring 5a, made as an independent element axially locked by a rolled edge 7 and externally
delimited by a cylindrical outer lateral surface 26, while the constant velocity joint
6 comprises an outer ring 10 provided with a cylindrical outer lateral surface 29
and with a front toothing 12 which engages with a similar front toothing, not shown
for the sake of simplicity, obtained on the edge 7 on reciprocally adjacent portions
13 (figure 1) of the rings 5 and 10.
[0015] The device 1 comprises a first sealing assembly 14 arranged between the inner ring
5 (in particular ring 5a) and the outer ring 8 to protect the rolling bodies 9, and
a second sealing assembly 15 integrally restrained, as shall be seen, to the inner
ring 5 (in particular the ring 5a), arranged between the wheel hub 3 and the outer
ring 10 of the joint 6, partially fitted on the surface 29. The sealing assemblies
14 and 15 are symmetrical and coaxial with respect to axis A.
[0016] The sealing assembly 14 comprises: two shields 16 and 21 arranged facing each other
and fitted on the inner ring 5 (in particular 5a) and onto the inner ring 8, respectively;
and a plurality of annular lips 22, 23 integral with the shield 21 and arranged in
sliding contact with the shield 16.
[0017] The shield 16 is L-shaped in radial section and in turn comprises a sleeve portion
17 anchored/fitted by interference and therefore, fluid-sealingly, onto the radially
outer lateral surface 26 of the inner ring 5, and a flange portion 18, which radially
extends so as to protrude on the outside from the sleeve portion 17 and towards the
outer ring 8.
[0018] On a respective frontal surface 20 thereof facing towards joint 6, the flange portion
18 supports an annular signal generating element 19 defined by a flat annular insert
19b, having predetermined thickness measured in axial direction, of a magnetizable
elastomeric material which has been magnetized and anchored to the frontal surface
20 so as to wholly cover it. The annular insert 19b has either a plurality of magnetized
and non magnetized zones alternating with each other about axis A, or a plurality
of magnetized zones with opposite polarity; once the annular element or insert 19b
is operatively coupled with a sensor, known and not shown for the sake of simplicity,
such sensor emits a signal function of the rotation speed of ring 5.
[0019] According to the invention, on the side opposite to the sleeve portion 17 and on
the side of the annular signal generating element 19, therefore in use towards the
joint 6, the flange portion 18 carries a tubular support element 24 which axially
projects so as to protrude from the flange portion 18 and, in use, from the inner
ring 5 (in particular 5a).
[0020] Radially inwards, the tubular element 24 is arranged substantially flushed with the
sleeve portion 17 of the shield 16 and therefore, substantially flushed with the radially
outer cylindrical lateral surface 26 of the inner ring 5.
[0021] In combination with the above-described feature, the second sealing assembly 15 comprises
a tubular core 28, opposite ends 27, 30 of which are at least partially embedded in
an elastomeric material forming, at the first end 27 facing the side opposite to the
first sealing assembly 14, at least one annular sealing lip 31 sealingly cooperating
with the outer ring 10 of the joint 6; and, at the second end 29 facing the first
sealing assembly 14, an elastically deformable annular tooth 32 for coupling to the
tubular element 24.
[0022] Moreover, in combination again with what described above, the tubular support element
24 has, on the side of a radially inner lateral surface 33 thereof, a shape complementary
to that of tooth 32 so as to snappingly receive it therein, to axially restrain in
a protruding manner the second sealing assembly 15 to the first sealing assembly 14
and therefore to the inner ring 5 of the wheel hub 3.
[0023] The tooth 32 of elastomeric material wherein the second end 30 of the core 15 is
embedded and the inner lateral surface 33 of the tubular element 24 are shaped so
that in use, the tooth 32 frontally abuts against the inner ring 5 (in particular
against the ring 5a), substantially in correspondence with the radially outer lateral
surface 26.
[0024] According to a feature of the invention, the tubular support element 24 consists
of a tubular sleeve 34 made of an elastomeric material, which axially projects so
as to protrude from the annular signal generating element 19. In particular, the sleeve
34 is obtained integral with the annular signal generating element 19, therefore integral
with the insert 19b of elastomeric material, through which the tubular support element
24 defined by the sleeve 34 is anchored integral to the flange portion 18.
[0025] Preferably, the tubular sleeve 34 made of elastomeric material forming the tubular
support element 24 has a thickness, measured in the radial direction, which is substantially
equal to the thickness of the sleeve portion 17 of the shield 16, so as to form a
protruding extension thereof on the side of the frontal surface 20.
[0026] Also in order to improve the mechanical features of the snapping coupling between
tooth 32 and sleeve 34, the flange portion 18 of the shield 16 may have, substantially
at the sleeve portion 17, an annular bulge 35 defined by a U-shaped fold of the flange
portion 18, and extending with the convexity thereof towards the tubular support sleeve
34; it therefore has the concavity thereof facing shield 21.
[0027] In order to optimize the snapping coupling between the sealing assembly 15 and the
shield 16, the radially inner lateral surface 33 of sleeve 34 (figure 2) is provided,
at a first end 37 thereof closer to the flange portion 18, with an annular indentation
38 obtained substantially flushed with, but on a side opposite to, a frontal outer
surface 39 of the annular signal generating element 19, arranged parallel to the frontal
surface 20.
[0028] In this way, the annular indentation 38 creates, on one side, a preferential radial
bending zone on the tubular support element 24 corresponding to a thinned root portion
40 of the protruding sleeve 34, which directly originates from the insert 19b, and
on the other side it creates an annular receiving seat for the elastically deformable
tooth 32, consisting of the indentation 38 itself.
[0029] Moreover, the lateral surface 33 is also provided with an annular rim 42 obtained
at one second end 43 thereof, opposite to the first end 37; the rim 42 extends to
a position which is immediately adjacent to the indentation 38 and has, in the radial
section, a convex curved profile which is seamlessly joined to a corresponding concave
curved profile of the indentation 38, whereby the lateral surface 33 has a substantially
upturned S profile in radial section.
[0030] Moreover, the profile of the annular rim 42 defines, on the side opposite to the
flange portion 18 and therefore at the end 43, an inlet opening 44 of the tubular
element 24 (figure 2) flared towards the joint 6, adapted to define an invitation
for the insertion in the sleeve 34 of the tooth 32 of elastomeric material of the
second sealing assembly 15.
[0031] According to a further aspect of the invention, tooth 32 of elastomeric material
is delimited towards the first sealing assembly 14 by a front flat surface 45 arranged
perpendicularly to the longitudinal symmetry axis A of the device 1 and adapted to
abuttingly couple, with the tooth 32 engaged in the indentation 38, with the frontal
end surface of the ring 5 (in particular ring 5a), which thus forms an axial support
shoulder 48 for the tooth 32, a shoulder that is integral with the flange portion
18.
[0032] Moreover, the tooth 32 is shaped so as to partially project, on the side of the surface
45, axially protruding from the second end 30 of the tubular core 15, so as to improve
its elastic deformability in the coupling step, without impairing the coupling sturdiness,
once the same coupling has been made.
[0033] Also to this end, the end 30 of the core 15 is delimited towards the tooth 32 by
a frustoconical annular surface 46 which, when the first sealing assembly 14 and the
second sealing assembly 15 are coupled, is substantially tangent to the flared inlet
opening 44 of the tubular support element 24.
[0034] In order to improve the axial stiffness of the core 28 and provide a thrust surface
to carry out the snapping mounting of the sealing assembly 15 on the shield 16, the
core 28 is provided, substantially at the centre between the ends 27 and 30, with
a step-shaped portion 41, obtained by an L-fold of the tubular core 28. On the side
of the end 27, moreover, the sealing assembly 15 is provided, in addition to the elastically
deformable sliding sealing lip 31, with a second lip 47 shaped so as to be relatively
stiff and which extends slanting so as to protrude from the end 27 on the side opposite
to the lip 31, so as to form in use a centrifugation element for any contaminants
that approach the lip 31.
[0035] Due to the provision of the tubular element 24 and to the described shape of the
sealing assembly 15, the sealing assembly 15 may be made as an element independent
of the sealing assembly 14 and in particular, of the shield 16, although being in
use integrally retrained to the shield 16, axially protruding from the shield 16,
as if obtained integrally therewith, above all by a simple snapping coupling, facilitated
by the described shape of the rim 42.
[0036] Therefore, it is possible to pre-mount the device 1 snappingly coupling the sealing
assemblies 14 and 15 before mounting the sealing assembly 14 between the rings 5 and
8, as with the prior art devices, but with the advantage of preventing any risk of
deformation of the core 28 and significantly reducing both the axial and the radial
dimensions of the device 1, or according to an aspect of the invention, the device
1 may be mounted in two steps; by first mounting only the sealing assembly 14 between
the rings 5 and 8, before carrying out the plastic deformation of the edge 7; in this
way, the rolling bodies 9 are protected during all the processing steps of the wheel
hub assembly 3/constant velocity joint 6; thereafter, by snappingly coupling the sealing
assembly 15, after having fitted it on the side of the end 27 on surface 29, with
the elastomeric sleeve 34 integrally carried by the shield 16.
[0037] With reference now to the figures 3 and 4, figure 4 shows a possible version 1b of
the static sealing device in figure 1. Details similar or equal to those already described
are indicated with the same reference numerals for the sake of simplicity.
[0038] In particular, the device 1b is identical to the device 1 described above, except
in that it has a tooth 32b obtained so as to radially project protruding on the inside
of the tubular core 28 (rather than on the outside), and in that the surface of the
elastomeric sleeve 34 defining the tubular support element 24 according to the invention,
adapted to couple with the tooth 32b, is a radially outer lateral surface 50 of the
sleeve 34, rather than being the radially inner lateral surface 33, as in the case
above. The profile of the surface 50 and of the tooth 32b are those described above
for the surface 33 and the tooth 32, i.e. those in figure 2, but of course they are
reversed by 180° with respect to axis A. In this case, the axial shoulder 48 for the
tooth 32b is defined by the flange portion 18, rather than by the ring 5.
[0039] With reference to figure 3, it shows a version 1c of the static sealing device according
to the invention, to be used if a signal generating element 19 is not required. The
second sealing assembly 15 is identical to that described for the device 1 of figures
1 and 2 and has a tooth 32 for engaging with the tubular support element 24. The latter,
however, rather than consisting of a sleeve of elastomeric material as 34, consists
of an annular bulged portion 49 of the first shield 16 defined by a U-shaped fold,
in radial section, made at least on the flange portion 18 in order to axially project
so as to protrude from the flange portion 18 on the side opposite to the sleeve portion
1; such U-shaped fold has the concavity facing the sleeve portion 17 and one of the
opposite sides thereof, in particular the radially innermost one, defines a radially
inner lateral surface 33b of the tubular element 24 having a shape complementary to
the shape of the elastically deformable coupling tooth 32 carried by the tubular core
28.
[0040] The profile of the surface 33b is substantially identical to that described above
for the surface 33 and in the practice is obtained by plastically deforming also a
part of the sleeve portion 17 immediately adjacent to the flange portion 18; of course,
moreover, according to this version, the sleeve portion 17 of the shield 16 has an
axial length greater than that of the ring 5 (5a), so as to protrudingly project from
the same, in use, on the side of the flange portion 18.
[0041] Finally, it should be noted that both embodiments of the invention shown in figures
1 and 4 may also be carried out without the signal generating element 19, anchoring
the elastomeric sleeve 32 or 32b directly onto the frontal surface or face 20 of the
flange portion 18, also without the annular insert 19b, which may be totally lacking
or only partially cover the face or surface 20 and in any case be obtained from a
normal, non-magnetizable elastomeric material.
1. A static sealing device (1) for wheel hubs (3) connected to constant velocity joints
(6), the device comprising a first sealing assembly (14) interposed in use between
an outer ring (8) and a radially outer, cylindrical lateral surface (26) of an inner
ring (5) of the wheel hub (3), and a second sealing assembly (15) arranged in use
between the wheel hub (3) and an outer ring (10) of the constant velocity joint; wherein
the first sealing assembly (14) comprises a first shield (16) anchored to the inner
ring (5) by means of a sleeve portion (17) fitted onto the radially outer, cylindrical
lateral surface (26) and provided, on the side of the joint (6), with a flange portion
(18) which radially extends so as to protrude from the sleeve portion (17) and towards
the outer ring (8) of the wheel hub (3);
characterized in that, in combination:
- the first sealing assembly (14) comprises a tubular support element (24) which axially
projects so as to protrude from the flange portion (18) and, in use, from the inner
ring (5); and
- the second sealing assembly (15) comprises a tubular core (28) having first and
second opposite ends (27,30) at least partially embedded in an elastomeric material
forming, at the first end (27) facing the side opposite to the first sealing assembly
(14), at least one annular sealing lip (31) sealingly cooperating in use with the
outer ring (10) of the joint (6); and, at the second end (30) facing the first sealing
assembly (14), an elastically deformable annular tooth (32) for coupling to the tubular
support element (24);
- the tubular support element (24) has, on the side of a lateral surface (33, ) thereof,
a shape complementary to a shape of the tooth (32) so as to snappingly receive the
tooth (32) to axially restrain the second sealing assembly (15) to the first sealing
assembly (14) and therefore in use to the inner ring (5) of the wheel hub.
2. A sealing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the tooth (32) made of elastomeric material, in which the second end (30) of the
tubular core (28) of the second sealing assembly (15) is embedded, and the lateral
surface (33) of the tubular support element (24) are shaped so that, in use, the tooth
(32) frontally abuts against an axial shoulder () which is integral with the tubular
support element and which starts substantially flushed with the lateral surface of
the tubular support element.
3. A sealing device according to claim 2, characterized in that the axial shoulder is in use defined either by the inner ring (5) or by the flange
portion (18) of the first shield, according to whether the lateral surface (33, )
of the tubular support element (24) having a shape complementary to the shape of the
elastically deformable tooth (32) is either the radially inner or the radially outer
lateral surface of the tubular support element (24).
4. A sealing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubular support element (24) consists of a tubular sleeve (34) made of an elastomeric
material, which axially projects so as to protrude from the flange portion (18), to
which it is integrally restrained in one piece, and which is arranged substantially
flushed with the sleeve portion (17) and, therefore, substantially flushed with the
radially outer, cylindrical lateral surface (26) of the inner ring (5).
5. A sealing device according to claim 4, characterized in that the flange portion (18) of the first shield (16) carries outwards and towards the
joint (6) an annular signal generating element (19) consisting of an insert (19b),
of predetermined thickness measured in the axial direction, made of a magnetizable
elastomeric material, which has been anchored to a first frontal surface (20) of the
flange portion of the first shield (16) facing the constant velocity joint (6), so
as to completely cover the same; the tubular support element (24) consisting of a
tubular sleeve (34) made of an elastomeric material being obtained in one piece with
the annular signal generating element (19), by means of which the tubular support
element (24) is integrally anchored to the flange portion (18) of the first shield.
6. A sealing device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the tubular sleeve (34) made of elastomeric material forming the tubular support
element (24) has a thickness measured in the radial direction which is substantially
equal to the thickness of the sleeve portion (17) of the first shield (16), so as
to form a protruding extension thereof on the side of the first frontal surface (20)
of the flange portion (18) facing the joint (6) in use.
7. A device according to one of the claims from 4 to 6, characterized in that the flange portion (18) of the first shield (16) of the first sealing assembly (14)
has, substantially at the sleeve portion (17), an annular bulge (35) defined by a
U-shaped fold of the flange portion (18), and extending towards the tubular sleeve
(34) made of elastomeric material forming the tubular support element (24).
8. A sealing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tubular support element (24) consists of an annular bulged portion of the first
shield (16) defined by a U-shaped fold, in the radial section, made at least on the
flange portion (18) in order to axially project so as to protrude from the flange
portion (18) on the side opposite to the sleeve portion (17); the U-shaped fold having
its concavity facing the sleeve portion (17) and one of its opposite sides defining
the lateral surface () having a shape complementary to the shape of the elastically
deformable tooth (32) for coupling to the tubular support element (24).
9. A sealing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lateral surface (33) of the tubular support element (24) is provided, at a first
end (30) thereof which is closer to the flange portion (18) of the first shield (16),
with an annular indentation (38) adapted to create, on one hand, a preferential radial
bending zone (40) on the tubular support element (24) and, on the other hand, an annular
receiving seat for the elastically deformable tooth (32) of the second end of the
core (28) of the second sealing assembly.
10. A sealing device according to claim 9, characterized in that the lateral surface (33) of the tubular support element (24) is provided with an
annular rim (42) obtained at one second end (43) thereof, opposite to the first end
(30); the rim (42) extending to a position which is immediately adjacent to the indentation
(38) and having, in the radial section, a convex curved profile which is seamlessly
joined to a corresponding concave curved profile of the indentation (38).
11. A device according to claim 10, characterized in that the profile of the annular rim (42) defines, on the side opposite to the flange portion
(18) of the shield of the first sealing assembly, an inlet opening (44) which is flared
towards the joint (6), of the tubular support element (24).
12. A sealing device according to claim 11, characterized in that the tooth (32) made of elastomeric material of the second sealing assembly (15) is
delimited towards the first sealing assembly (14) by a front flat surface (45) arranged
perpendicularly to a longitudinal symmetry axis (A) of the device and axially projects
so as to partially protrude from the second end (30) of the tubular core (28), which
is delimited towards the tooth (32) by an annular, truncated-conical surface (46)
which, when the first and second sealing assemblies are coupled, is substantially
tangent to the flared inlet opening (44) of the tubular support element.
1. Statische Dichtvorrichtung (1) für Radnaben (3), die mit Gleichlaufgelenken (6) verbunden
sind, wobei die Vorrichtung eine erste Dichtbaugruppe (14) umfasst, die bei Verwendung
zwischen einem Außenring (8) und einer radialen, zylindrischen Außenseitenoberfläche
(26) eines Innenrings (5) der Radnabe (3) angeordnet ist, und eine zweite Dichtbaugruppe
(15), die bei Verwendung zwischen der Radnabe (3) und einem Außenring (10) des Gleichlaufgelenks
angeordnet ist;
wobei die erste Dichtbaugruppe (14) eine erste Abschirmung (16) umfasst, die mit dem
Innenring (5) mittels eines Hülsenabschnitts (17) verankert ist, der auf der radialen
, zylindrischen Außenseitenoberfläche (26) sitzt und auf der Seite des Gelenks (6)
mit einem Flanschabschnitt (18) bereitgestellt ist, der sich radial erstreckt, sodass
er aus dem Hülsenabschnitt (17) und in Richtung des Außenrings (8) der Radnabe (3)
hervorsteht;
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass, in Kombination:
die erste Dichtbaugruppe (14) ein rohrförmiges Trägerelement (24) umfasst, das axial
vorsteht, um bei Verwendung aus dem Flanschabschnitt (18) und dem Innenring (5) vorzustehen;
und
die zweite Dichtbaugruppe (15) einen rohrförmigen Kern (28) mit ersten und zweiten
gegenüberliegenden Enden (27, 30), die mindestens teilweise in ein Elastomermaterial
eingebettet sind und am ersten Ende (27), das der Seite gegenüber der ersten Dichtbaugruppe
(14) zugewandt ist, mindestens eine ringförmige Dichtlippe (31) bildet, die dichtend
mit dem Außenring (10) des Gelenks (6) zusammenwirkt; und
am zweiten Ende (30), das der ersten Dichtbaugruppe (14) zugewandt ist, einen elastisch
verformbaren ringförmigen Zahn (32) zum Koppeln mit dem rohrförmigen Trägerelement(24)
umfasst;
- wobei das rohrförmige Trägerelement (24) auf der Seite einer Seitenoberfläche (33)
davon eine Form aufweist, welche die Form des Zahns (32) ergänzt, um den Zahn (32)
federnd aufzunehmen und die zweite Dichtbaugruppe (15) axial an der ersten Dichtbaugruppe
(14) und so während der Verwendung am Innenring (5) der Radnabe zu halten.
2. Dichtvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Zahn (32), der aus Elastomermaterial hergestellt ist, in dem das zweite Ende
(30) des rohrförmigen Kerns (28) der zweiten Dichtbaugruppe (15) eingebettet ist,
und die Seitenoberfläche (33) des rohrförmigen Trägerelements (24) derart geformt
sind, dass während der Verwendung der Zahn (32) vorne an einer axialen Schulter anliegt,
die einstückig mit dem rohrförmigen Trägerelement ausgebildet ist, und die im Wesentlichen
bündig an der Seitenoberfläche des rohrförmigen Trägerelements beginnt.
3. Dichtvorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die axiale Schulter bei der Verwendung entweder durch den Innenring (5) oder durch
den Flanschabschnitt (18) der ersten Abschirmung definiert wird, je nachdem, ob die
Seitenoberfläche (33) des rohrförmige Trägerelements (24), das eine Form aufweist,
welche die Form des elastisch verformbaren Zahns (32) ergänzt, die radiale Innen-
oder radiale Außenseitenoberfläche des rohrförmigen Trägerelements (24) ist.
4. Dichtvorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das rohrförmige Trägerelement (24) aus einer rohrförmigen Hülse (34), die aus einem
Elastomermaterial hergestellt ist, besteht, das axial vorsteht, um aus dem Flanschabschnitt
(18) vorzustehen, an dem es einstückig gehalten wird, und das im Wesentlichen bündig
mit dem Hülsenabschnitt (17) angeordnet ist und daher im Wesentlichen bündig mit der
radialen, zylindrischen Außenseitenoberfläche (26) des Innenrings (5) abschließt.
5. Dichtvorrichtung nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Flanschabschnitt (18) der ersten Abschirmung (16) ein ringförmiges signalerzeugendes
Element (19) nach außen und zu dem Gelenk (6) trägt, das aus einem Einsatz (19b) mit
vorbestimmter Dicke besteht, die in axialer Richtung gemessen wird, und aus einem
magnetisierbaren Elastomermaterial hergestellt ist, das mit einer ersten vorderen
Oberfläche (20) des Flanschabschnitts der ersten Abschirmung (16) verankert wurde,
die dem Gleichlaufgelenk (6) zugewandt ist, um dieses vollständig zu bedecken; wobei
das rohrförmige Trägerelement (24), das aus einer rohrförmigen Hülse (34), die aus
einem Elastomermaterial hergestellt ist, das einstückig mit dem ringförmigen signalerzeugenden
Element (19) erhalten wird, besteht, über welches das rohrförmige Trägerelement (24)
einstückig mit dem Flanschabschnitt (18) der ersten Abschirmung verankert ist.
6. Dichtvorrichtung nach Anspruch 4 oder 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die rohrförmige Hülse (34), die aus Elastomermaterial hergestellt ist, welches das
rohrförmige Trägerelement (24) bildet, eine Dicke aufweist, die in radialer Richtung
gemessen im Wesentlichen der Dicke des Hülsenabschnitts (17) der ersten Abschirmung
(16) entspricht, um so eine vorstehende Erweiterung davon auf der Seite der ersten
vorderen Oberfläche (20) des Flanschabschnitts (18), der dem Gelenk (6) während der
Verwendung zugewandt ist, zu bilden.
7. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 4 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Flanschabschnitt (18) der ersten Abschirmung (16) der ersten Dichtbaugruppe (14)
im Wesentlichen am Hülsenabschnitt (17) einen ringförmigen Wulst (35) aufweist, der
von einer U-förmigen Faltung des Flanschabschnitts (18) definiert wird, und sich in
Richtung der rohrförmigen Hülse (34), die aus dem Elastomermaterial hergestellt ist,
welches das rohrförmige Trägerelement (24) bildet, erstreckt.
8. Dichtvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das rohrförmige Trägerelement (24) aus einem ringförmigen Wulstabschnitt der ersten
Abschirmung (16), die von einer U-förmigen Faltung definiert wird, im radialen Abschnitt
besteht, der mindestens an dem Flanschabschnitt (18) ausgebildet ist, um axial vorzustehen,
um von dem Flanschabschnitt (18) auf der Seite gegenüber des Hülsenabschnitts (17)
vorzustehen;
wobei die Konkavität der U-förmigen Faltung dem Hülsenabschnitt (17) zugewandt ist
und eine ihrer gegenüberliegenden Seiten die Seitenoberfläche definiert, die eine
Form aufweist, welche die Form des elastisch verformbaren Zahns (32) zum Koppeln mit
dem rohrförmigen Trägerelement (24) ergänzt.
9. Dichtvorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Seitenoberfläche (33) des rohrförmigen Trägerelements (24) an einem ersten Ende
(30) davon bereitgestellt ist, das näher vom Flanschabschnitt (18) der ersten Abschirmung
(16) angeordnet ist, wobei eine ringförmige Vertiefung (38) ausgelegt ist, einerseits
eine bevorzugte radiale Biegezone (40) an dem rohrförmigen Trägerelement (24) und
andererseits einen ringförmigen Aufnahmesitz für den elastisch verformbaren Zahn (32)
des zweiten Endes des Kerns (28) der zweiten Dichtbaugruppe herzustellen.
10. Dichtvorrichtung nach Anspruch 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Seitenoberfläche (33) des rohrförmigen Trägerelements (24) mit einem ringförmigen
Rand (42) bereitgestellt ist, der an einem zweiten Ende (43) davon gegenüber dem ersten
Ende (30) erhalten wird; wobei sich der Rand (42) zu einer Position erstreckt, die
unmittelbar benachbart zu der Vertiefung (38) ist und radialen Abschnitt ein konvex
gekrümmtes Profil aufweist, das nahtlos in ein entsprechendes konkaves gekrümmtes
Profil der Vertiefung (38) übergeht.
11. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Profil des ringförmigen Randes (42) auf der Seite gegenüber des Flanschabschnitts
(18) der Abschirmung der ersten Dichtbaugruppe eine Einlassöffnung (44) definiert,
die in Richtung des Gelenks (6) des rohrförmigen Trägerelements (24) aufgeweitet ist.
12. Dichtvorrichtung nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Zahn (32), der aus Elastomermaterial der zweiten Dichtbaugruppe (15) hergestellt
ist, in Richtung der ersten Dichtbaugruppe (14) durch eine vordere flache Oberfläche
(45) begrenzt wird, die senkrecht zu einer Längssymmetrieachse (A) der Vorrichtung
angeordnet ist und axial vorsteht, um teilweise aus dem zweiten Ende (30) des rohrförmigen
Kerns (28) vorzustehen, der in Richtung des Zahns (32) von einer ringförmigen, kegelstumpfförmigen
Oberfläche (46) begrenzt wird, die, wenn die ersten und zweiten Dichtbaugruppen gekoppelt
sind, im Wesentlichen tangential zu der aufgeweiteten Einlassöffnung (44) des rohrförmigen
Trägerelements verläuft.
1. Dispositif d'étanchéité statique (1) pour des moyeux de roue (3) raccordé à des joints
homocinétiques (6), le dispositif comprenant un premier ensemble d'étanchéité (14)
interposé, pendant l'utilisation, entre une bague externe (8) et une surface latérale
cylindrique radialement externe (26) d'une bague interne (5) du moyeu de roue (3),
et un deuxième ensemble d'étanchéité (15) disposé, pendant l'utilisation, entre le
moyeu de roue (3) et une bague externe (10) du joint homocinétique ; le premier ensemble
d'étanchéité (14) comprenant un premier panneau (16) ancré sur la bague interne (5)
au moyen d'une portion de manchon (17) ajustée sur la surface latérale cylindrique
radialement externe (26) et pourvu, sur le côté du joint (6), d'une portion de bride
(18) qui s'étend radialement de manière à faire saillie depuis la portion de manchon
(17) et vers la bague externe (8) du moyeu de roue (3) ;
caractérisé en ce que, en combinaison :
- le premier ensemble d'étanchéité (14) comprend un élément de support tubulaire (24)
qui fait saillie axialement de manière à dépasser depuis la portion de bride (18)
et, pendant l'utilisation, depuis la bague interne (5) ; et
- le deuxième ensemble d'étanchéité (15) comprend un noyau tubulaire (28) ayant des
première et deuxième extrémités opposées (27, 30) au moins en partie noyées dans un
matériau élastomère formant, au niveau de la première extrémité (27) faisant face
au côté opposé au premier ensemble d'étanchéité (14), au moins une lèvre d'étanchéité
annulaire (31) coopérant de manière hermétique, pendant l'utilisation, avec la bague
externe (10) du joint (6) ; et, au niveau de la deuxième extrémité (30) faisant face
au premier ensemble d'étanchéité (14), une dent annulaire déformable élastiquement
(32) destinée à s'accoupler avec l'élément de support tubulaire (24) ;
- l'élément de support tubulaire (24) présentant, sur le côté d'une surface latérale
(33) de celui-ci, une forme complémentaire d'une forme de la dent (32) de manière
à recevoir par encliquetage la dent (32) pour qu'elle retienne axialement le deuxième
ensemble d'étanchéité (15) au premier ensemble d'étanchéité (14) et par conséquent,
pendant l'utilisation, à la bague interne (5) du moyeu de roue.
2. Dispositif d'étanchéité (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la dent (32) fabriquée en matériau élastomère, dans laquelle la deuxième extrémité
(30) du noyau tubulaire (28) du deuxième ensemble d'étanchéité (15) est noyée, et
la surface latérale (33) de l'élément de support tubulaire (24) sont formées de telle
sorte que, pendant l'utilisation, la dent (32) bute à l'avant contre un épaulement
axial qui est intégré à l'élément de support tubulaire et qui commence substantiellement
en affleurement avec la surface latérale de l'élément de support tubulaire.
3. Dispositif d'étanchéité selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que l'épaulement axial, pendant l'utilisation, est défini soit par la bague interne (5)
soit par la portion de bride (18) du premier panneau, selon que la surface latérale
(33) de l'élément de support tubulaire (24) ayant une forme complémentaire de la forme
de la dent déformable élastiquement (32) est soit la surface latérale radialement
interne soit la surface latérale radialement externe de l'élément de support tubulaire
(24).
4. Dispositif d'étanchéité selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que l'élément de support tubulaire (24) est constitué d'un manchon tubulaire (34) fabriqué
en matériau élastomère, qui fait saillie axialement de manière à dépasser depuis la
portion de bride (18), à laquelle il est retenu intégralement d'une pièce, et qui
est disposé substantiellement en affleurement avec la portion de manchon (17) et par
conséquent substantiellement en affleurement avec la surface latérale cylindrique
radialement externe (26) de la bague interne (5).
5. Dispositif d'étanchéité selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que la portion de bride (18) du premier panneau (16) porte vers l'extérieur et vers le
joint (6) un élément annulaire générateur de signaux (19) constitué d'un insert (19b),
d'épaisseur prédéterminée mesurée dans la direction axiale, fabriqué en un matériau
élastomère magnétisable, qui a été ancré sur une première surface frontale (20) de
la portion de bride du premier panneau (16) faisant face au joint homocinétique (6),
de manière à le recouvrir complètement ; l'élément de support tubulaire (24) étant
constitué d'un manchon tubulaire (34) fabriqué en un matériau élastomère obtenu d'une
seule pièce avec l'élément annulaire générateur de signaux (19), au moyen duquel l'élément
de support tubulaire (24) est ancré intégralement sur la portion de bride (18) du
premier panneau.
6. Dispositif d'étanchéité selon la revendication 4 ou 5, caractérisé en ce que le manchon tubulaire (34) fabriqué en matériau élastomère formant l'élément de support
tubulaire (24) présente une épaisseur mesurée dans la direction radiale qui est substantiellement
égale à l'épaisseur de la portion de manchon (17) du premier panneau (16), de manière
à former une extension saillante de celui-ci sur le côté de la première surface frontale
(20) de la portion de bride (18) faisant face au joint (6), pendant l'utilisation.
7. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 4 à 6, caractérisé en ce que la portion de bride (18) du premier panneau (16) du premier ensemble d'étanchéité
(14) présente, substantiellement au niveau de la portion de manchon (17), un bourrelet
annulaire (35) défini par un pli en forme de U de la portion de bride (18) et s'étendant
vers le manchon tubulaire (34) fabriqué en matériau élastomère formant l'élément de
support tubulaire (24).
8. Dispositif d'étanchéité selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que l'élément de support tubulaire (24) est constitué d'une portion à bourrelet annulaire
du premier panneau (16) définie par un pli en forme de U, dans la section radiale,
réalisé au moins sur la portion de bride (18) afin de faire saillie axialement de
manière à dépasser de la portion de bride (18) du côté opposé à la portion de manchon
(17) ; la concavité du pli en forme de U étant tournée vers la portion de manchon
(17) et l'un de ses côtés opposés définissant la surface latérale ayant une forme
complémentaire de la forme de la dent déformable élastiquement (32) en vue de son
accouplement à l'élément de support tubulaire (24).
9. Dispositif d'étanchéité selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la surface latérale (33) de l'élément de support tubulaire (24) est pourvue, au niveau
d'une première extrémité (30) de celle-ci qui est plus proche de la portion de bride
(18) du premier panneau (16), d'une indentation annulaire (38) prévue pour créer,
d'une part, une zone de flexion radiale préférentielle (40) sur l'élément de support
tubulaire (20), et, d'autre part, un siège de réception annulaire pour la dent déformable
élastiquement (32) de la deuxième extrémité du noyau (28) du deuxième ensemble d'étanchéité.
10. Dispositif d'étanchéité selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en ce que la surface latérale (33) de l'élément de support tubulaire (24) est pourvue d'une
bordure annulaire (42) réalisée au niveau d'une deuxième extrémité (43) de celle-ci,
opposée à la première extrémité (30) ; la bordure (42) s'étendant jusqu'à une position
qui est immédiatement adjacente à l'indentation (38) et ayant, dans la section radiale,
un profil de courbure convexe qui est réuni sans couture à un profil de courbure concave
correspondant de l'indentation (38).
11. Dispositif selon la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce que le profil de la bordure annulaire (42) définit, du côté opposé à la portion de bride
(18) du panneau du premier ensemble d'étanchéité, une ouverture d'entrée (44) qui
est évasée vers le joint (6), de l'élément de support tubulaire (24).
12. Dispositif d'étanchéité selon la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce que la dent (32) fabriquée en matériau élastomère du deuxième ensemble d'étanchéité (15)
est délimitée vers le premier ensemble d'étanchéité (14) par une surface plate avant
(45) disposée perpendiculairement à un axe de symétrie longitudinal (A) du dispositif
et fait saillie axialement de manière à dépasser partiellement de la deuxième extrémité
(30) du noyau tubulaire (28) qui est délimitée vers la dent (32) par une surface annulaire
tronconique (46) qui, lorsque les premier et deuxième ensembles d'étanchéité sont
accouplés, est substantiellement tangentielle à l'ouverture d'entrée évasée (44) de
l'élément de support tubulaire.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description